The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-04-28

in the vicinity Of the Big Black while the
Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps were march
ing upon and capturing Jackson, and so dis
posing of Joseph i. Johnston that he could
BE OF NO AID TO PEMBERToN.
IL is my opinion that we succeeded admir-
ably, and that up 10 that time, al least, Gen.
Grant was entirely satisfied with the work
Of the Thirteenth Corps and the way ii was
handled.
On the morning Of May Is change came
over the spirit of our dreams. Our division
was in the hurry and hustle of preparation
for hasty departure and a rapid march.
Officers could be seen going from place to
place at great speed. Everything possible
was done TO prepare the men for forced
march. 1t was apparent TO all that some
great event had happened or was about TO
take place. 1t was soon whispered about
camp that we were 10 20 10 Bolton, there TO
be Joined by the remainder Of the army and
march TO Edwards Station, in the hope Of
meeting Gen. Pemberton's forces outside Of
Yicksburg and defeating them before he
could get inside the works
Very early in the morning our division
was on the march TO Bolton. The men lit
out with the long, swinging step the West
ern men were so noted for taking when
they made long and rapid marches. The
distance between our camp and Bolton was
soon passed. AT that place we encamped for
the night, and early in the morning of the
10th We're on the way to Edwards Station.
During the march from Clinton we had the
advance Of the army. The roads were hor-
rble. 1t had rained for three days
AS IT ONLY RAINS
on the Lower Mississippi. IL Just came down
IN torrents, and the troops, artillery, wagons
and horses worked up a deep mud that tried
the endurance Of the men TO their utmost
On previous occasion we had approached
Edwards Station from the southwest; now
we were approaching il from the northeast
Gen. Pemberton had blindly staid there
until we had marched almost around him.
We were the last to bid him good-by on the
10Th; now, on the 10th, we were the first TO
greet him and has command.
About o'clock In the morning our
advance found the enemy strongly posted
on Champion Hills-s0 called because
they were part of plantation owned by
Mr. Champion. The position selected was
remarkably strong one, and although
it has often been described, none of the
descriptions that have read exactly tally
with my recollections of the position. The
first hill, on our part Of the line, rises
abruptly 80 or GO feet high, and extends
from north to south. On the east side ii is,
or was then, thickly covered with wood. On
the west Of this is another hill, perhaps %
feet higher The top, or crest, of this second
bill was cleared, and furnished n splendid
position for the rebel artillery, and really
commanded the first hill. The lower portion
OF the east side Of this hill was covered with
young timber or underbrEsh, with cleared
field extending from one hill to the other
On the west side of the first hill were spurs,
or foothills that extended out toward the
second. These were very abrupt and uneven.
The Jackson road enters these hills on the
east side and leads directly west 10 the top
of the first hill; then ii bends 10 the south
along the summit of the hill for about one
mile; then again il turns 10 the west, leading
along the crest of low hill that connects
the two large hills, and then on TO Bakers
Creek. On the summit Of the first hill, and
in front of the position Of our brigade, there
was then a small house, surrounded by a
picket fence.
On the first hill aud in front of the house,
the first rebel line was posted. strongly sup
ported by artillery aud also by infantry aad
artillery on the second hill. As il is conceded
by all that
GEN. HOvEY's DIVISION
bore the brunt OF that days battle il is per-
haps proper that / should more particularly
describe the organization. The First Brigade
was commanded by Brig.-Gen. George T..
Maginnis, aud was composed Of the llth, 2lth
3sth and 10th Ind, 29th Wis, and the 1st Wis,
LIST Mich. aud 10th Ohio batteries. The Second
Brigade was commanded by Col. James r. Slack
Of the A7th Ind. This brigade was composed
Of the 47th Ind. 56th Ohio oath and 2sth Iowa,
and the "a Ohio aud LIST Mo- batteries.
Between and o'clock our skirmishers
advanced aud developed the position of the
enemy, who showed every disposition to stay
there and fight it out on that line They
seemed very much disinclined TO make our
acquaintance but IL man moved he was
lucky ii he did not get shot. As our Captain,
who was on the sgirmsh-line. said, they did not
show the proper spirit of hospitality TO ms, after
we had come 50 far TO greet them. Between 6
and 8 O'Clock our skirmishers had advanced SO
far i'm the wood AT the bottom Of the hill that
the line of battle was advanced TO the cover Of
the wood aud the men were ordered 10 lie down,
so that they would be protected from the
enemy's fire until
THE TIME CAME TO co IN.
Our brigade was formed from right 10 left,
as follows: cath aud Bath Ind, 29th Wis. and
the doth and llth Ind. The Second Brigade
was on our left, but do not know Just how il
was depluyed. liz was hard 10 keep the men
quiet and prevent bringing on general engage
ment, as the rebel sharpshooters, securely hid
den among the brush and trees, could take
deliberate aim al the men whenever they
moved.
While all this was being DONE Gen. Grant
rode up in the rear Of our position, dismonnted
and climbed upon the fence. There he sat for
quite while and whitfield a stick, apparently
the most unconcerned of all; yet no one was
so deeply interested as he. III his army had
been defeated and driven back il would have
ruined his prospects for all time 10 come. The
very unconcern he exhibited helped win tho
! fight.
IL was very trying 20 the men TO be com.
PEELED 10 lie there SO long under fire and not be
| permitted 10 return il, or advance, or fall back
Now il Is known why we We're compelled q
wait so long Then we had no idea of what
caused the delay. We know now that the fault
was with
osTERHAUs AND CARR
! who were under the immediate personal com
mand of Gen. McClenand. The reasons given
] FOR not coming up, 50 far as / have heard, an,
not satisfactory. The road they were on was
/ shorter than the one we had TO march over
4 The men Of those divisions were as good al
! those of any other. IL they had beer
brought up as they should have been, the vic
tory would have been much more complete and
gained with less loss of life. Then we would
have outnumbered the enemy as il was. hl
| outuumbered us two 10 one or more
/ AbOut 10 o'clock the command TO advanc,